Now we understand: Étienne Capoue as good as any signing for Watford
It wasn’t that long ago news of Étienne Capoue’s new contract was met with utter bemusement.
The Hornets’ hierarchy has made a few odd contractual decisions in recent times. Most recently, handing Daryl Janmaat a two-year extension when he hadn’t kicked a ball since November and with the club facing the prospect of relegation. That agreement was torn up at the end of the transfer window with the Dutchman expected to return to his homeland. Watford ‘benefit’ by getting his salary off the books. But only after paying considerably more than they would have if they’d let his existing deal expire in the summer.
At one point, Capoue had been expected to leave Vicarage Road too. The Frenchman had been training away from the main group after declaring his intention to move on following relegation. At 32 and with a couple of excellent seasons behind him, it would have been hard to begrudge him a reunion with Javi Gracia at Valencia.
The deal did not happen. Los Che wanted a loan deal. Watford — and rightly so — wanted cold, hard cash for their 2018/19 Player of the Year. So club and player resolved their differences. Keeping the enigmatic midfielder is a massive coup.
But if we rewind to March 2018 when his extension was announced, there was much confusion. Watford’s record signing when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur for £6.5million in the summer of 2015, there was always a feeling Capoue did enough to get by. There were moments of brilliance — witness his touchline trickery against Manchester United–and stand-out displays, one of which came on the left of midfield at Old Trafford in 2016. But these fleeting moments were usually reserved for top-six opponents or television fixtures. The inescapable conclusion was Capoue was a man coasting at Vicarage Road. Once touted as ‘The Next Big Thing’ out France, the Niort native gave off the vibe that he was above all this and largely phoned it in during his first two-and-a-half seasons in WD18.
The appointment of Gracia, succeeding Marco Silva with whom Capoue had a strained relationship, changed everything. In 2018 — and yes, calendar year stats are stupid and pointless — no-one in the Premier League made more interceptions per 90 than Watford’s №29.
The difference, it turned out, was hardly rocket science: just play him in his correct position, at the base of midfield. “I enjoy it because it was my position at Tottenham and Toulouse so I am enjoying it a lot,” Capoue told the Hertfordshire Mercury in 2018.
“I played eight years as a professional in this role, so I enjoy it of course. If I do not attack, it is OK and it is good to defend as well. It is cool.”
Finally able to put his tentacle-like legs to use, Capoue was rightly Player of the Season in 2019, a remarkable turnaround for someone who had previously been the lightning rod for supporters’ frustration. Rightly or wrongly, scraping his studs down Wilfried Zaha’s Achilles during Watford’s run to that year’s FA Cup final didn’t hurt Capoue’s popularity in the stands either.
Even last season, as the entire team’s performance levels dropped off a cliff, Capoue remained an integral member of the side. According to Fbref data, only Will Hughes (1.96) completed more tackles per 90 than Capoue (1.88) of Watford’s regular starters. Nobody could better his 1.47 interceptions per 90 though. It’s little wonder; picture Capoue in a Watford shirt and the chance are the image which pops into your head will be of him down on one knee straining to intercept a loose pass. Much like this, really…
Combining tackles and interceptions only Hughes (4.44) — who enjoyed his best year at Watford last term — eclipsed Capoue (4.25) per 90. He also ranks well for successful pressures (defined as the number of times possession was gained within five seconds of applying pressure) with 5.89 turnovers per 90.
By the end of the elongated transfer window, there was some frustration at the business Watford had done. Or, rather, the business the Hornets had failed to do. But keeping Hughes, Ismaïla Sarr, João Pedro, Kiko Femenía and Capoue is better than bringing any new faces in. Even if it’s only until January. With only ten weeks until the transfer window re-opens, it’s not implausible there will be interest in the former France international once more.
As well as his reading of the game and ability to break the play up, Capoue has an incredible ability to pick out his team-mates with audacious long-range passes. His sublime, raking first-time half-volleyed pass against Leicester City in the first game following Project Restart was the sort of thing which would have been trending on Twitter had it been made by a high-profile player.
Capoue will be eased back in and, even when he’s match sharp, he’ll have to earn his place in the side. New head coach Vladimir Ivić isn’t the sort to pick his team on reputation. Tom Cleverley and Manchester United loanee James Garner have shone in Capoue’s absence. The former has captained the side while United won’t have lent Watford their prodigious midfielder without stipulating a certain level of involvement.
The languid Frenchman made his return in Tuesday’s 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers while Hughes is closing in on a return. Their reintegration will elevate Watford’s midfield considerably. Neither should be in the Championship and their stay will only be temporary — even if Watford’s isn’t.
Capoue’s terrace chant claims ‘We just don’t think you understand; he’s better than Zidane, he’s {insert coach’s name here}’s man, we’ve got Étienne Capoue’. Where once Watford fans didn’t understand, we certainly do now.